TAT named an award winner in fight against human trafficking

Kendis Paris, national director and a co-founder of Truckers Against Trafficking (The Trucker photo: DOROTHY COX)

The Trucker News Services

1/7/2013

For their work helping members of the trucking industry engage in the fight to end human trafficking, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) and three of its founders have been recognized by national anti-trafficking organization Global Centurion Foundation (GCF) as one of three winners of the 2012 Norma Hotaling Anti-Trafficking Awards.

To commemorate the anniversary of Norma's passing on December 17th, 2008, GCF offers these three awards paying tribute to Norma's legacy and recognizing individuals continuing her life's work.

"Words can't express the honor of being named a winner of the 2012 Norma Hotaling Award," said TAT National Director Kendis Paris. "It's really an award for the entire trucking industry, because they're the ones on the front lines, recognizing human trafficking when they see it, making the calls and saving lives."

Norma was trafficked into prostitution as a child and remained trapped in the sex industry for eighteen years, but through sheer personal will, she was able to free herself from the vicious cycle of abuse and exploitation. For the next two decades, Norma dedicated her life to help reach and rescue victims of prostitution and sex trafficking, along with focusing on the demand-side of sex trafficking by developing new programs and policies for men and boys.

"It is an honor to pay tribute to Norma Hotaling's tremendous legacy by recognizing organizations and individuals who have continued in her life's work, and we are thankful for the generous donations from so many of our supporters that allow us to recognize these champions in the fight for freedom", commented GCF President, Laura J. Lederer, J.D.. "Together, we can continue to reach those who have suffered the violence and oppression of modern slavery, we can reduce demand through developing innovative programs and campaigns, and we can focus on developing policy that better protects victims and provides resources to prosecute offenders and prevent human trafficking."

Every year, GCF grants three $5,000 awards: An award recognizing a Survivor-Centered Service Provider; an award recognizing Innovative Demand Reduction; and the Josephine Butler Award for Abolitionist Policy Development. The three awardees for 2012 are:

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is a nonprofit organization that exists to empower and mobilize members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat domestic sex trafficking by providing educational training resources to prevent modern slavery to travel plaza employees, all students of private and public truck-driving schools, and all truck drivers employed via major carriers and owners/operators. TAT also partners with law enforcement to facilitate the investigation of human trafficking and modern slavery.

Survivor-Centered Service Provider:

Tina Frundt, Founder and Executive Director, Courtney's House

Tina Frundt is a leading figure in the crusade to help children sexually exploited for commercial purposes. Ms. Frundt is a survivor of domestic sex trafficking who now dedicates her life to helping women and children heal from domestic sex trafficking and commercial sex exploitation. After realizing there was no specialized housing available for sex trafficked children in Washington, D.C., Ms. Frundt founded Courtney's House in August 2008. Since its inception, Courtney's House and Ms. Frundt have helped over 500 victims escape from being trafficked. Ms. Frundt has testified before Congress about her own experiences and also trains law enforcement and other non-profit groups to rescue and provide resources to victims.

Josephine Butler Abolitionist Award for Policy Development:

Kathryn Xian, Founder and Director, Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery

The Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery (PASS), is a Hawaii-based not-for-profit whose mission is to stop Human-Trafficking in Hawaii and the Pacific. PASS provides services and advocacy for survivors of Human-Trafficking, education and training on the identification of victims of Human-Trafficking, and public awareness and prevention education for the greater community. Under the leadership of Ms. Xian, PASS has also strived to build alliances with public interest legal services, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), churches, non-profit community organizations, domestic violence shelters, educational institutions, and law enforcement to advocate for effective policy to combat human trafficking and protect victims of modern slavery. Ms. Xian coordinated a coalition of NGOs to help educate and advocate for a series of legal reforms including new Hawaiian laws prohibiting promoting prostitution and labor trafficking. This year, PASS is advocating for safe harbor for children along with demand-focused prostitution laws.